Haggard steps down amid gay affair inquiry  —  Ted Haggard, one of the most prominent evangelical pastors in the nation, resigned today as president of the National Association of Evangelicals amid allegations that he carried on a three-year sexual relationship with a male prostitute.

Penn President Poses with "Suicide Bomber"  —  University of Pennsylvania president Amy Gutmann threw her annual Halloween costume party at her home Tuesday night.  Among the guests was Saad Saadi, who came dressed as a suicide bomber, complete with plastic dynamite strapped to his chest and a toy automatic rifle.

Last gasps in Iraq  —  I supported this war, but the deteriorating situation is starting to convince me that we can't win.  Those of us who hoped that the Iraqis could achieve democracy were wrong — and their failure has implications for the entire region.

Exclusive: NRCC's Foley "Damage Control"  —  Two senior aides to National Republican Campaign Committee Chairman Tom Reynolds participated in "damage control" conference calls concerning correspondence between Congressman Mark Foley and a former congressional page — two days before the scandal became public …

Mideast terror leaders to U.S.: Vote Democrat  —  Withdrawal from Iraq would embolden jihadists to destroy Israel, America  —  JERUSALEM - Everybody has an opinion about next Tuesday's midterm congressional election in the U.S. - including senior terrorist leaders interviewed by WND …

Crystal Ball 2006: THE PREDICTIONS  —  Campaigns Clamor for Last-Minute Midterm "Mo"  —  Just how Democratic a year is 2006?  —  Five days out, let's rephrase the question this way: when's the last time a major political party has failed to capture a single House seat, Senate seat …

Washington warns of 'mounting evidence' of bid to bring down Siniora Cabinet  —  White house says it supports a 'sovereign, democratic' lebanon  —  BEIRUT: Washington warned of "mounting evidence" Wednesday that Iran, Syria and Hizbullah are "preparing plans to topple" the Lebanese government.

Rep. Paying Ex-Mistress About $500K  —  ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) — A Republican congressman accused of abusing his ex-mistress agreed to pay her about $500,000 in a settlement last year that contained a powerful incentive for her to keep quiet until after Election Day, a person familiar with the terms of the deal told The Associated Press.

Truth in Kerry's remark  —  Hard facts about Iraq from senator are run through GOP spin cycle  —  The sharks — or are they Swift Boats? — are circling.  —  Republicans are feverishly seizing on Sen. John Kerry's remark about President Bush's Iraq policies and trying to distort it into a slap …

Steele cuts Cardin's lead nearly in half … The race for Maryland's open U.S. Senate seat has narrowed, but Democrat Benjamin L. Cardin holds a 6-point edge, the result of firm support among black voters and strong leads in Baltimore and suburban Washington, according to a new poll for The Sun.

'Only 50 years left' for sea fish  —  Environment correspondent, BBC News website  —  There will be virtually nothing left to fish from the seas by the middle of the century if current trends continue, according to a major scientific study.  —  Stocks have collapsed in nearly one-third of sea fisheries …